Manual body rubbing device

ABSTRACT

A body rubbing device has a housing having a lower side adapted to face a body part to be acted upon and an upper side, the housing having an upper surface which is upwardly convex and is elongated in a longitudinal direction to define a substantially oval-shape, the upper convex surface being formed so that a palm of a user&#39;s hand can rest on the upper convex surface, a handle placeable between fingers of the user&#39;s palm and extending substantially over a part of the housing, the housing also having a lower surface at the lower side, and acting means provided on the lower surface of the housing for acting on a body part of a user, and an additional removable extension handle connectable with the first mentioned handle, the additional extension handle has a distal end arranged to be grasped by a user and a proximal end to be engageably connected with the first mentioned handle, the proximal end of the extension handle being in a direct contact with the first mentioned handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to body rubbing devices.

Body rubbing devices are known in the art. They are usually used for applying an action on a body part of a user. The existing devices, include an action means provided on the housing to act on a body part of the user. It is believed that the existing body rubbing devices can be further improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a body rubbing device which is a further improvement of the existing devices of this type.

In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a body rubbing device, comprising a housing having a lower side adapted to face a body part to be acted upon and an upper side, said housing having an upper surface which is upwardly convex and is elongated in a longitudinal direction to define a substantially oval-shape, said upper convex surface being formed so that a palm of a user's hand can rest on said upper convex surface; a handle placeable between fingers of the user's palm and extending substantially over a part of said housing, said housing also having a lower surface at said lower side; acting means provided on said lower surface of said housing for acting on a body part of a user; and an additional removable extension handle connectable with said first mentioned handle, said additional extension handle having a distal end arranged to be grasped by a user and a proximal end to be engageably connected with the first mentioned handle, said proximal end of said extension handle having a surface in a direct contact with a surface of said first housing.

When the body rubbing device is designed in accordance with the present invention, it constitutes a further improvement of the existing rubbing devices in that the working area of the body rubbing device in the region of the cooperation of the housing having the main handle with the extension handle is reliably sealed to prevent undesirable entry of media into the working part, and also the hold of the additional extension handle on the housing is improved.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are a plan view, a side view, and a front view of a body rubbing device in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 3 a-3 c are views showing an additional extension handle of the inventive body rubbing device;

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-section of an upper part of the housing of the inventive body rubbing device;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are a transverse cross-section and a view from below of a lower part of the housing of the inventive body rubbing device;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section of one of action elements of the inventive body rubbing device;

FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, are views showing modifications of the lower part of the body rubbing device in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 are a side view, a bottom view and a bottom view on a lower part only of a body rubbing device in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, while FIG. 16 is a partial cross-section of this device; and

FIG. 17 is a view showing an extension handle of the body rubbing device, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A body rubbing device in accordance with the present invention has a housing which is identified as a whole with reference numeral 1. The housing 1 has an upper part with an upper side and a lower side as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The housing 1 has an upper surface which is identified with reference numeral 2 and is formed as an upwardly concave surface as can be seen in FIG. 2, so that a palm of a user 3 can be placed on the upper surface 2 of the body rubbing device as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The body rubbing device further has a handle which is identified with reference numeral 4. The handle extends from one end of the housing, which is a left end in FIG. 2, toward the other opposite end of the housing, in a longitudinal direction and over a part of the length of the housing 1, measured in direction from the one to the other ends in FIG. 2. The handle 4 has a lower narrow part 5 and an upper wide part 6. When the user's palm 3 is placed on the convex surface 2, the narrow part 5 can be located between two fingers of the user's hand, and the upper part 6 is located on top of the fingers.

FIGS. 3 a-3 c show a side view, a plan view and a cross-section of a removable extension handle 28. The removable extension handle 28 has a distal end 29 designed to be held by a user, and a proximal end 30 connectable with the handle 4. For this purpose the proximal end 30 of the handle 28 can be provided with two projections 31, and a slot 31 b into which the lower narrow part 5 of the handle 4 can be insertable, for example with elastic action, so that the handle 4 is held in the proximal end of the extension handle 28. The proximal end 30 of the extension handle 28 has an inner concave surface which corresponds to the upper convex surface 2 of the housing 1, so that in the assembled condition the above mentioned surfaces are in contact with one another.

As can be seen from FIG. 3 c, the upper wider portion 6 of the handle 4 is wider than the width of the slot 31 b between the projections 31 a of the handle 28, so that the upper wider portion 6 of the handle 4 reliably closes the slot 31 b, and therefore no media, for example water, can enter the working region or exit the working region of the inventive body rubbing device.

Also, the upper surface of the projections 31 a is formed in correspondence with the lower surface of the upper wider portion 6 of the handle 4. In particular, the upper surfaces of the projections 31 a can be made as flat surfaces, and the lower surface of the upper wider portion 6 of the handle 4 can be also formed as a flat surface in contact with the above mentioned flat surfaces. This also improves the hold of the additional extension handle 28 on the handle 4 and therefore on the housing of the body rubbing device.

When the extension handle 28 is attached to the housing 1 of the body rubbing device, the body rubbing device can be used for applying an action in situations which require an extra reach, for example for action on a user's back, user's feet, etc.

A throughgoing opening 7 is provided in the housing, so that a rope 8 can extend through the opening 7 to suspend the body rubbing device when not in use. The opening 7 is provided in the handle 4 in its region close to the upper surface 2.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the housing 1 has a substantially oval shape on a plan view with an oval peripheral edge, having two longitudinal ends which are spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction (a vertical direction in FIG. 1), and two transverse ends which are spaced from one another in a transverse direction (a horizontal direction in FIG. 1). The housing 1 is composed of an upper portion 9 and a lower portion 10 together forming a hollow interior. The lower portion 10 is removably connectable to the upper portion 9. The connecting means for connecting the portions 9 and 10 with one another can be formed for example by a circular groove 11 provided in the upper portion 9, and at least one, preferably two projections 12 provided in a lower portion 10 and engageable into the groove 11. For this purpose at least the projections 12 can be made elastic so as to snap into the circular groove 11.

The lower part 10 has action means which are identified as a whole with reference numeral 13 and formed to act on a body part of a user, as will be explained in detail herein below. When the upper part 9 and the lower part 10 are assembled with one another, they form a hollow interior 14.

In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of color insert plates is provided. One of such cover insert plates is shown in FIG. 4. It is inserted in the interior 14 of the housing 1 and lies on an inner surface of an upper wall of the part 9 which is transparent. The color plates have all offset colors and are provided preferably for identifying the device in accordance with its applications for specific purposes, and additionally for increasing attractive look of the device.

The lower part 10 has a lower wall 16, which can be elastic so that when the body rubbing device is used for applying corresponding action to the body part of a user, the lower wall 16 flexibly deflects to provide a fine, delicate action.

The lower part in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 6 is designed as a brush having the wall 16 provided with a plurality of cushion-like elastic spikes for acting on a user's scalp. As shown in FIG. 6, some of the spikes which are identified with reference numeral 17 are arranged on the periphery of the lower surface of the wall 16, while other spikes which are identified with reference numerals 18 are provided in the center of the lower surface of the wall 16, and formed so that the spikes 18 are thicker than the spikes 17. Also, the spikes 18 can be provided with small tooth-like projections 19. The spikes 17 preferably are elastic.

FIG. 8 illustrates the lower portion in which the action means are designed for body massaging. Here, the action means include a plurality of relatively thick projections 21 which are designed so that when the body rubbing device applies an action to a body part of the user, the projections 21 produce a massaging action. FIG. 9 shows the lower portion of the body rubbing device in which the action means include an abrasive pad attachment with an abrasive layer 22 attached to the lower wall 16 for example by an adhesive layer or by a VELCRO connection 23. The abrasive pad attachment provides abrasive action, for example abrasively removing foot calluses, for skin exfoliation, etc. FIG. 10 shows the lower part of the body rubbing device in which the action means is formed as a pumice stone attachment, including a pumice stone 24 and an adhesive layer 25 which connects the same to the lower wall 16. The pumice stone can be glued directly into the upper portion 9. The pumice stone attachment is used for example for removing foot growth, such as calluses, etc. As can be seen from the drawings, the pumice stone is formed so that it has a convex lower working surface both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction, so as to extend with its convex lower surface outwardly beyond the housing, to provide the very efficient action as required. FIG. 11 shows the lower portion of the body rubbing device which is formed as a brush attachment including a plurality of bundles 26 of bristles, which are connected to the lower wall 16, for example by inserting the bundles into small holes provided in the lower wall 16. The brush attachment is used for applying cleaning action to a user's body. FIG. 12 shows the lower part of the brush which is formed as a finger nail body rubbing device attachment including a plurality of thin plastic projection 27 connected in one piece with the lower wall 16. The attachment is utilized as a finger nail brush.

FIGS. 13, 14, 15 and 16 are views showing a further modification of the body rubbing device. The body rubbing device shown in these figures has an upper portion 122 and a lower portion 123. The lower portion 123 has a plurality of downwardly extending annular projections 124, which can have for example a conical shape. A plurality of elements, for example balls 125 are held by the projections 124 rotatably in the lower portion 123. The device further has an intermediate wall 128 which can be also clamped in the groove 127 of the upper part 122. In particular the intermediate wall 128 has lateral extensions 126 which are retained in the groove 127. The intermediate wall 128 is substantially spring-elastic. When the device is applied to a part of the body with its balls 125 and is rolled over the part of a body with a force applied from above downwardly, the balls 125 not only rotate but also slightly move upwardly because of the spring-elastic properties of the intermediate portion 128, so that the balls 125 during the operation of the device move elastically upwardly and downwardly to provide a special massaging action.

FIG. 17 shows the extension handle 28′ in accordance with another embodiment. It has a distal portion 28 a graspable by a user, and a separate proximal portion 28 b cooperating with the handle 4. The portions 28 a and 28 b are connected with one another so as to be pivotable between a plurality of relative angular positions and to be fixed in each of them, so that any angle can be adjusted for convenience of use of the device. The fixation of the positions can be achieved in that the ends of a fork-shaped part 28 c of the distal portion 28 a can surround and engage the separate proximal portion 28 b with a spring action, for example by interengaging projections and grooves 29. The prongs of the fork-shaped part 28 c can be biased towards the proximal portions 28 b with the spring action.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in shampoo brush, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 

1. A body rubbing device, comprising a housing having a lower side adapted to face a body part to be acted upon and an upper side, said housing having an upper surface which is upwardly convex and is elongated in a longitudinal direction to define a substantially oval-shape, said upper convex surface being formed so that a palm of a user's hand can rest on said upper convex surface; a handle placeable between fingers of the user's palm to substantially cover the fingers from above and extending substantially over a part of said housing, said housing also having a lower surface at said lower side; acting means provided on said lower surface of said housing for acting on a body part of a user; and an additional removable extension handle connectable with said first mentioned handle, said additional extension handle having a distal end arranged to be grasped by a user and a proximal end to be engageably connected with the first mentioned handle, said proximal end of said extension handle having a surface in a direct contact with a surface of said first housing.
 2. A body rubbing device as defined in claim 1; and further comprising connecting means for connecting said proximal end of said movable extension handle to said first mentioned handle, said connecting means including projections provided on said proximal end of said removable extension handle and forming a slot therebetween, in which slot at least a part of said first mentioned handle is engageable, said first mentioned handle having an upper part which is in direct contact with upper surfaces of said projections.
 3. A body rubbing device as defined in claim 2, wherein said upper part of said first mentioned handle is wider than said slot between said projections so as to reliably close said slot from above.
 4. A body rubbing device as defined in claim 3, wherein said projections have an upper surface, said upper portion of said first mentioned handle has a lower surface which corresponds to said upper surface of said projections and is in a direct contact therewith.
 5. A body rubbing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said proximal end of said extension handle is formed as a proximal part which is separate from a remaining part of said extension handle.
 6. A body rubbing device as defined in claim 5, wherein said remaining part of said extension handle is pivotable relative to said proximal relative to said proximal part and fixable in a plurality of angular positions.
 7. A body rubbing device as defined in claim 6, wherein said remaining part and said proximal part of said extension handle are fixable relative to one another with a spring action.
 8. A body rubbing device as defined in claim 7, wherein said remaining part of said extension handle has a fork-shaped end which partially surrounds and engages with said proximal part with the spring action.
 9. A body rubbing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said surface of said housing is convex and said surface of said proximal end of said extension handle is concave and formed so that in assembled condition said convex and concax surface are in surface contact with one another. 